HDMA appoints senior VP for government affairs

January 4th, 2011

ARLINGTON, Va. – Patrick Kelly has joined the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) as senior vice president of government affairs.

HDMA said Tuesday that Kelly will lead all of the health care distributor trade group's federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives. Most recently, he was vice president for state government relations and alliance development for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

"As an industry, we are confronted with a wide array of evolving laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the safety, value and efficiency of the health care supply chain, and Patrick will be instrumental in helping us articulate and advocate our interests," HDMA president and chief executive officer John Gray said in a statement. "His extensive legislative and regulatory government relations experience, particularly at the state level, will be critical as he develops strategies to address major issues such as reimbursement, uniform federal pedigree and the growth of specialty pharmaceutical distribution."

For 15 years at BIO, Patrick was responsible for state legislative and regulatory activity in all 50 states, according to HDMA. He also oversaw BIO's alliance development efforts, working with patient advocacy groups and various other organizations to promote the biotechnology industry and communicate around issues including economic development, health care, bioethics, agriculture, renewable fuels and industrial biotechnology.

Before joining BIO, Kelly was a representative for state and environmental affairs with the Grocery Manufacturers Association.